New Schiit Vali 2 Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by jexby, Dec 11, 2015.

  1. winders

    winders boomer

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    Buy an adapter an roll a WE396A tube in the Vali 2.....nirvana!
     
  2. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    It's cute, isn't it? Like a guinea pig that has been at the Viagra.
     
  3. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    if any USA based Vali2 owners wants one of these adapters and a WE396A tube, send me a PM. could dig one up for sale.
    SBAF Friends get priority to PM replies.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
  4. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    How good or bad preamp output from Vali2? I thinking to get one to use as headphone amp as well as tube preamp to power amp. Is preamp out of Vali2 bad and just to use as headphone amp?
     
  5. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    I wouldn't buy it for the sole purpose as a preamp, but it does fine.

    I threw it in my TT setup for a while and enjoyed it.
     
  6. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Thank you for your feedback. I just picked up used one which is well burned in with stock tube. Headphone out sounds great and keen to do some tube rolling. However, I just tried preamp out to integrated amp then to speaker and sound quite bad. The treble sounds thin and harsh. Do not understand why HO and PreO sounds different... Aren't they meant to sound similar ?
     
  7. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Afraid I can't help with that one. In my setup, it caused a little softness in the sound, but it was on the pleasant side of the spectrum. Certainly didn't experience any thinning of the sound.

    Perhaps some more experienced folk here will have some idea.
     
  8. Ali-Pacha

    Ali-Pacha Friend

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    I don't have a clue about preamps, but I did some toying with my Vali 2, in front of my BHSE as well as in front of my SML SA-50 (cheapo class D speaker amp) :
    - rounded pleasant sound, sweet and tube-ish
    - so very good with the class D thing, but too much loss (details, impact, extension) with the BHSE
    - too much gain in high gain mode, when you cross the imbalance domain, it's already too loud for casual listening

    I soon will be able to compare with my Magni3...not that much comparison out there BTW, even with their main function as headphones amps :D

    Ali
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2017
  9. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    It must be just my unit. My am feeding Modi Multibit > Vali 2 with stock tube > HD600 or pre-out to Inte Amp > Speaker. When I directly connect Modi Multibit to Inte Amp to feed speaker, sounds natural and tad bit dark which I like. But when I use preamp function from Vali 2 for convenience of not plug In & out constantly, notice the sound becomes a bit thin and harsh. I guess that I will use Vali 2 as HeadAmp only until I swap tube to test further.
     
  10. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    How do we get rid of sig interference? Do I just put aluminium foil covering inside the chassis? Any time mobile phone is near I am getting noise from the amp and have not experienced with any other amps that I had...
     
  11. nostatic

    nostatic Acquaintance

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    fwiw I often will get phone interference out of bass or guitar amps if the phone is sitting on top. Haven't noticed it with the Vali2 but I also haven't had my phone closer than a foot or so.
     
  12. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    My phone is 2 foot away and still catch sig noise.... I basically have to remove the phone from the desk and put the phone in my pocket to avoid noise.
     
  13. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Make sure the cables do not cross and keep at least a feet distance between the amplifier and the phone. Also If possible keep the phone on silent...
     
  14. DigMe

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    I've not had this problem with my Vali 2 and I often lay my phone pretty close. Then again no one calls me.
     
  15. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Some tubes are more prone to picking up interference than others, too.
     
  16. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Good point. I have not thought about it. I will test with other tubes that I am waiting to receive. :)
     
  17. winders

    winders boomer

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    I agree completely!

    I just received my new Vali 2 and now have this nearfield setup:

    iMac --> Eitr --> Modi Multibit --> Vali 2 --> powered monitors

    I also have a pair of HD650 headphones that I use with this setup.

    It's a tall stack, but it works really well. I had a Modi Multibit/Vali 2 combination (Siemens CCa tube) that I bought late last year and I don't remember it sounding anything like does now through the monitors. It sounds much better than I remember and the Vali 2 and tube have about 4 hours on them. The Vali 2 seems like a better preamp than it was before. The differences are a newer Vali 2, Eitr, and a WE "JW" 2C51 tube. How much better is the new Vali 2 versus the old one?

    Once everything gets settled in and I get used to the sound, I will take Eitr out of the equation and listen some more. I did this already though when I had Modi Multibit feeding the monitors directly. When I added Eitr the whole listening experience was better. Instrument and voice separation was better. The background was darker. Timbre was better. The sound was more musical and less digital.
     
  18. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    @winders - without the Eitr, listen to metal vs plastic guitar strings, and other sounds with steep attack, as well as how much timbre percussion has. That makes it really easy to hear the effects of jitter (hear the metallic quality of those hats!). Also, busy rock music, listen to the snares and hats coming through the mix, that's often a good one.

    Heck, recordings with xylophones/glockenspiels too- that sharp attack followed by sweet tone ("Word On A Wing" by Bowie has some in a fairly busy song, if you have that as lossless) are often telling.
     
  19. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    I just ordered a Tungsram PCC88 from Upscale. I have no idea what I’m in for. I called upscale to ask what might approximate the Telefunken E88CC. I ask about the Telefunken PCC88 / 7DJ8. That’s not a Telefunken, it’s a Siemens.... I ask about the BEL E88CC. He says the Tungsram is a kick as tube and the price is low ‘cause I have lot of them. When I run low the price will go up. Long story short, I think Kevin felt like selling that tube today. So..... I bought one. I’ll update when I hear it. I have minimal comparisons though. Stock Vali 2 tube with no label, an EH6922, Genalex Gold Lion stock tube for my Liquid Crimson. If I find the time, I’ll try everything in both amps.

    Edit: Reread my notes and did a bit more searching through the thread. It sounds like this may be a bit more forward than I’ll like. I hope I’m wrong.

    I really want to find a good neutral to slightly warm sound with adequate extension at the extremes, withought being flabby, boomy or too bright and fatiguing. The bonus would be that it is a solid improvement in my Liquid Crimson as well - then I’d get a second one. I hate to spend $100 or more, the amp cost $130 for crying out loud. $40 to $70 would be ok.

    Sheesh, I stayed away from the tube rabbit hole for years. I have no real interest in seeing just how deep it goes......
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2017
  20. mrflibble

    mrflibble Friend

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    Yes, I agree tube rolling can be quite a rabbit hole!

    I have a Tungsram PCC88, which I tried in my Vali 2. It looks similar to the one on Upscale Audio, except mine has some red numbers on the other side. I find that tube to be too forward for my liking and a bit "flat" in that the forwardness seems to cover much of the soundstage. I find it a bit too much for my tastes, but YMMV.

    I also have a Heerlen made Valvo PCC88 (dimple disk getter) which is also quite forward but only really in the centre, it has better soundstage subtlety than the Tungsram. Out of the more readily available PCC88 tubes, this is the best one I have heard. I believe one could describe it as a neutral, but a bit more focused in the centre.

    The tube I am currently using in my Vali 2 is Valvo PCC88 square getter made in Hamburg. It does everything right, very clear and resolving, great soundstage depth and width. Just really well balanced. But it is pretty rare. I picked it up for cheap as a pair with another Valvo tube. Not sure why they were sold as a pair, because the other tube has a halo getter and is quite poor. But I didn't mind because I only wanted the square getter tube. I'm preferring this tube to both a Valvo E88CC and a Philips E88CC.

    Getting the Gen 5 USB upgrade on my Gungnir Multibit has changed my tube preferences slightly. Previously, I was using an M-Audio 192 to feed S/PDIF into the Gungnir Multibit, in comparison to the Gen 5 USB this had some harshness / unpleasant edge to it and a flatter soundstage. A few of the tubes that I found to be a bit too edgy with the M-Audio are really great now (e.g. General Electric 5670 Triple Mica) and the aforementioned Valvo PCC88 square getter. It is interesting that modifying an upstream component can affect the balance of the sound and one's tube preference. It is probably therefore a good idea to keep hold of tubes that are not currently one's preferred tube, just in case one makes a change to the audio chain later.

    My previous favourite tube (with the M-Audio 192) was a Valvo E288CC, it is still a great tube (very holographic, great soundstage), but it is probably a bit too laid back for the Vali 2 and Gen 5 USB.

    I'm not sure if a tube that is great in one amp (such as Vali 2) would be the best tube for another amp (such as Liquid Crimson - although I am not familiar with this amp). There are a lot of subtleties within a chain despite the a particular tube's electrical characteristics remaining constant (even that may not be true?). Finally, as you are likely aware, the Vali 2 is slightly rolled off in the extremes and no tube will fix that, but yes some tubes will not make it worse :)

    Gosh, I find it very difficult to give a tube recommendation. I think it definitely gets to a point of diminishing returns with tube rolling on the Vali 2. One could spend a lot of money on a tube and not find it preferable to a much cheaper tube.

    If you've got Gen 5 USB or Eitr, it could be worth picking up a GE 5670 triple mica and adaptor. Maybe even worth a shot without Eitr. Definitely an engaging, forward and fun sound.
     

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